Female customers served less, male bowls filled... Food portion gender discrimination reignited

"Do you give less because I'm a woman? They say yes"
Online post controversy... "Clear gender discrimination"
"Food waste reduction, refill is OK" counterargument

A story has been circulating online about a visit to a restaurant in Gangnam, Seoul, where a male and female customer's food portions were served differently, causing discomfort and sparking heated debates.

A posted on their SNS that they were discriminated against by the amount of food at a Kalguksu restaurant in Gangnam.
[Photo by SNS capture]

On the 29th, a post by a female customer, Ms. A, spread on social media under the title "Gangnam Kalguksu Restaurant Portion Discrimination Controversy." Ms. A posted photos of the food and a message claiming she was discriminated against in portion size.

Ms. A stated, "I was discriminated against by gender at the restaurant. They gave the men at another table their full portions and gave me what was left over," adding, "When I asked if it was because I was a woman that they gave me less, the owner said 'Yes.'"

According to Ms. A, she and her male companions entered the restaurant and ordered two bowls of kaljebi. Although they ordered the same menu, the portions were different. In the photo, the kaljebi for her companions was served with the bowl full of both kalguksu noodles and handmade sujebi, but her bowl contained less than half of that amount.

Ms. A further explained, "There were two of us, myself and a male companion, and we ordered two kaljebi. About three minutes later, three men in their 20s at the next table also ordered kaljebi," adding, "They were cooking all five bowls at once when a middle-aged man came in two minutes later and ordered kaljebi. The staff shouted 'additional kaljebi' and rushed to the kitchen."

She continued, "They can't cook the last person's portion all at once. They disguised the five bowls ordered earlier as six, and since the portions were insufficient, it seems they took some from the men's portions, one of whom was a woman, and gave the leftovers to me," claiming, "From reviews, it is true that women get smaller portions, but not to this extent."

She added, "When I asked if it was because I was a woman that the portion was smaller, they said yes, and when I asked about refills, they told me to refill myself," emphasizing, "That's not the issue. They should have asked about the portion size from the start."

Netizens responded with comments such as, "If they are going to serve less, they should charge less," "If refills are available, they should serve equal portions initially, and those who eat more can refill," and "They should just sell small and large sizes."

However, some netizens commented, "It seems like an effort to minimize leftover food," and "Isn't it true that women generally eat less than men?"

"Received Gender Discrimination at Restaurant" Ongoing Controversy

Mr. B claimed that the restaurant owner, who asked about the menu ordered by the man, insisted that he gave a larger portion for the man's share.
[Photo by X (formerly Twitter) capture]

Earlier in March, Mr. B also sparked controversy by revealing on his X (formerly Twitter) that he experienced discrimination at a restaurant.

At the time, Mr. B said, "There really are places that give men more rice. When ordering, they asked what menu the woman ordered, and when I asked why, they said men are served larger portions."

In response to the controversy, the restaurant owner, Mr. C, explained, "A female customer was upset, claiming gender discrimination in rice portions. Despite sufficient explanation, she posted a critical message. We do not give women less; rather, we give men more rice in advance," adding, "If additional rice is requested afterward, men pay an extra 1,000 won per bowl, while women receive it free of charge."

He continued, "Why is this considered bad discrimination against women? This is a know-how accumulated over years of business," and "Many customers even praised it as thoughtful."

Despite the explanation, criticism continued strongly, and eventually, the restaurant announced that they would provide the same portions regardless of gender.